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*Official* Indian Premier League 2011
- Thread starter James
- Start date
And they're still undefeated.
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Haven't seen a ball of this so far but I'll have more time to do so from now on. Anyone want to fill me in and how it's gone so far and any important events? 
Athlai
Not Terrible
JH Kallis
MS Bisla (+)
G Gambhir
MK Tiwary
YK Pathan
EJG Morgan
Shakib al Hasan
Iqbal Abdulla
R Bhatia
L Balaji
B Lee
is being pretty overrated here mostly because of some of the big ticket names. Kallis is a very solid T20 player but unless Pathan fires (which is what 1 in every 8 games?) they aren't a side who can put up a huge total fairly regularly. The bowling is alright with Shakib and Lee coming in but in this format both can be expected to go for runs.
Beyond the actual names on the sheet as a team they just haven't played good cricket together so far.
On the other end of the spectrum and I don't know how Warne does it, Rajhastan already look a unit.
AG Paunikar (+)
SK Watson
R Dravid
J Botha (in randomly wonderful form)
AL Menaria
LRPL Taylor
AM Rahane
AS Raut
SK Warne
A Singh
SK Trivedi
This side is a little lobsided in the sense that Botha and Watson are good for 8 overs but can bat in the top 3. You could also work in Tait or Oram into this lineup. This is just a pretty well honed lineup that bat unbelievably low. Watto up top and Taylor in the middle, if either one scores a 50 Rajhastan will probably win.
MS Bisla (+)
G Gambhir
MK Tiwary
YK Pathan
EJG Morgan
Shakib al Hasan
Iqbal Abdulla
R Bhatia
L Balaji
B Lee
is being pretty overrated here mostly because of some of the big ticket names. Kallis is a very solid T20 player but unless Pathan fires (which is what 1 in every 8 games?) they aren't a side who can put up a huge total fairly regularly. The bowling is alright with Shakib and Lee coming in but in this format both can be expected to go for runs.
Beyond the actual names on the sheet as a team they just haven't played good cricket together so far.
On the other end of the spectrum and I don't know how Warne does it, Rajhastan already look a unit.
AG Paunikar (+)
SK Watson
R Dravid
J Botha (in randomly wonderful form)
AL Menaria
LRPL Taylor
AM Rahane
AS Raut
SK Warne
A Singh
SK Trivedi
This side is a little lobsided in the sense that Botha and Watson are good for 8 overs but can bat in the top 3. You could also work in Tait or Oram into this lineup. This is just a pretty well honed lineup that bat unbelievably low. Watto up top and Taylor in the middle, if either one scores a 50 Rajhastan will probably win.
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Has Botha been batting four? Gun. I've always thought Botha didn't really make the most of his batting ability.
Athlai
Not Terrible
Botha has been batting at 3 and has been absolutely on fire.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/indian-premier-league-2011/engine/match/501199.html
http://www.espncricinfo.com/indian-premier-league-2011/engine/match/501204.html
http://www.espncricinfo.com/indian-premier-league-2011/engine/match/501199.html
http://www.espncricinfo.com/indian-premier-league-2011/engine/match/501204.html
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Haha awesome. I'm gutted I missed those games.
Athlai
Not Terrible
If he gets out for a duck he'll be averaging 106 in this IPL. WAFG
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
And lets face it; that's not going to happen.
centurymaker
Cricketer Of The Year
Ishant Sharma bowled deliveries above 150 kmphs yesterday 
pup11
International Coach
Pretty sure Dravid and Watto are gonna open the innings and Botha is gonna continue batting at #3.
Also like PEWS I'm not surprised Botha is doing well with the bat, always felt he had batting potential but prior to this he just was batting too low for him to come good with the bat.
With both Watto and Taylor playing today people seated anywhere near the cow-corner better come equipped with crash helmets, because I have a feeling they could need them.
TT Boy
Hall of Fame Member
Batted 7 at the WC and at two critical points during the WC he had the opportunity to bat 20+ overs and he ****ed both opportunities up. Botha works at 3 here as he is sent in to be innovative, not to get the side over the line, just to go out there play a few reverse laps, if they work so be it, if he fails, then roll on Ross Taylor.
Nice to luxury to have and Warne is making full use of him. Botha has shown that he can't slog at the death and he can't finish, so if you want to use the batting, best place for him is in the top order.
Also seems like Warne's decision influenced Dan Vettori. It is one thing having Botha at 3, a guy who has opened in FC cricket and scored a FC hundred but Zaheer Khan, a tailender albeit a decent hitter of the ball was an out there decision - especially when Steyn and Sharma were bowling 145kph+ and the former was simply awesome last night.
TT Boy
Hall of Fame Member
RTD > Shakib. Doesn't offer as much with the ball but he is the better batsman, the better hitter of the ball and infinitely the better fielder. Kolkata have got so much batting depth.
Jono
Virat Kohli (c)
Yeah it made no sense because firstly, Botha and Zaheer bat in completely different ways. Secondly, as you said, Zaheer wasn't up against medium fast bowlers bowling a good line, so he could just hit them off it. He was up against an out-an-out gun in Steyn and an Ishant who is bowling surprisingly well (and fast).
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